Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - Buffalo Bills safety Taylor Rapp is only 25-years-old, yet he’s played four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams.
Rapp started 48 out of the 57 games he played with the Rams, and has nine career interceptions.
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When Rapp was looking for some place to play, he liked what he saw in Buffalo. He had admired Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde from afar, but it was more than that.
“I’ve always had respect for what coach [Sean] McDermott and [general manager] Brandon Beane have been building here,” said Rapp on Wednesday following practice. “Just going back to free agency, me just being able to find the right culture and the right team that not only fits me as a football player, but also from a cultural perspective.
“I’ve always had respect for how they play, and how tough they are, how they go about their business. Everything has lived up to expectations.”
Rapp can play both safety positions and says both Hyde and Poyer have really welcomed him into the defense.
“I can’t say enough good things about those two guys. They’ve welcomed me in and brought me under their wing,” Rapp said. “Just being able to learn from them and pick their brains, and just trying to gain any tidbits of information from them is so valuable to me.”
Rapp still doesn’t have a defined role from McDermott, but that doesn’t concern him at all.
“It’s still pretty early. At the end of the day, all I care about is just being a piece to help this team take the next step and get to the Super Bowl,” Rapp said. “It’s all about winning. Whether it’s me playing in a sub package or special teams, it’s all about winning. That’s all I care about.”
Having to get used to a new team and new teammates, it hasn’t been all good.
“I’ve definitely had some growing pains dating back to the offseason program, and I’m still going through some growing pains,” Rapp admitted. “I think that’s what it’s all about though. You go through those learning pains, and you’ll never be perfect. Even though this is my fifth year in the league, it’s a very new defensive scheme to me. I just try to do as much as possible.”
Rapp has already won a Super Bowl with the Rams, but says this team in Buffalo and that team in Los Angeles are totally different.
“Spending four years with an organization and now joining a new team, I’ve loved it ever since I’ve been here,” Rapp said. “I was telling some of the guys that I’ve actually felt more comfortable here than my four years in L.A.”
Rapp adds that actually happened for him in the first months with the Bills taking part in organized team activities (OTAs).
On this week’s Bills depth chart, Rapp is second behind Poyer and ahead of Dean Marlowe.
